At a glance
- Recently, OPG and Kiewit partnered with Indigenous communities to host seed collection workshops.
- The lessons learned from these workshops will help support site rehabilitation at OPG's Little Long and Smoky Falls Dam Safety projects.
- The two projects in northeastern Ontario will help improve dam safety in the area in the event of extreme weather.
In northeastern Ontario, Indigenous communities are playing a key role in helping restore the land at two OPG project sites.
Attendees at recent seed collection workshops were able to learn about various techniques and best practices for removing and storing seeds.
Earlier this fall, OPG and its partner, engineering and construction firm Kiewit, hosted a second Seed Collection Workshop with youth and members from the Moose Cree First Nation and Taykwa Tagamou Nation.
Through the informative session, attendees learned about various plant identification and seed collection techniques that will help restore the land to its natural state at OPG's Little Long Dam Safety Project and Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project.
The Little Long Dam Safety Project, set to wrap up in late 2024, has increased the discharge capacity at Adam Creek Spillway (located on the Little Long reservoir), by increasing the number of sluice gates available to pass water in the event of large precipitation events.
A spillway is a structure used to release surplus water from a dam. A sluice gate is a movable gate in a dam that is used to manage the water flow and water level.
The Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project, scheduled to be completed in 2025, is located just downstream of Little Long. This project also involves dam safety upgrades, replacing two sluice gates, and permanently closing 25 overflow spill bays and eight sluice gates/bays that are no longer required.
Working with Indigenous communities on seed collection, storage, and site rehabilitation is a great way to gain an even deeper understanding of land stewardship.Chris Lledo, Environmental Advisor with OPG
The hands-on seed collection workshop fostered a sense of community and collaboration and included valuable insights into the importance of seed collection and preservation.
Attendees were able to learn about various techniques and best practices for removing and storing seeds. Participants then had the opportunity to use their newfound knowledge to engage in seed collection exercises in identified areas. Seeds collected included Mountain Maple, Clover, and Goldenrod.
The plant identification and seed collection techniques learned will help restore the land to its natural state at OPG's Little Long Dam Safety Project and Smoky Falls Dam Safety Project.
"Site rehabilitation and environmental stewardship is a big component of any OPG project," said Chris Lledo, OPG's Environmental Advisor for both projects. "Throughout the life of the projects, we have been implementing practices to mitigate environmental impacts. Working with Indigenous communities on seed collection, storage, and site rehabilitation is a great way to gain an even deeper understanding of land stewardship."
The collected seeds will be dried, stored, and planted during site rehabilitation work at the Little Long and Smoky Falls Dam Safety sites. This dedication to sustainable practices and environmental conservation allows OPG and Kiewit to restore areas of the project as close to pre-construction conditions as possible.
It also ensures that the natural materials that have been removed or excavated from the area are reused to the greatest extent possible.
